Driver vacancies risk delivery delays this peak season

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Driver vacancies risk delivery delays this peak season

A new report from retail communications specialist Esendex has revealed that there are nearly 30,000 postal and delivery driver vacancies in the UK, suggesting orders placed over Black Friday and Christmas could take longer than usual to reach customers.

The Delivery Delays Report analyzed data from Indeed to calculate the vacancy rate for the most common delivery job titles and pinpoint the regions and cities in the UK that are most at risk of delivery delays this peak season.

Last year, Black Friday sales soared to an estimated 13.3 billion, with over £1bn spent online, but nearly half (42%) of fleet-based businesses were affected by driver shortages.

This year, sales are expected to increase by 5.6%, cranking up the pressure on logistics companies and fleet management operators to make timely deliveries, especially when over three-quarters (77%) of consumers halt spending a month before so they can splurge on discounted goods.

Double the sales

Online sales year-round usually account for 25% of UK retail sales; this Black Friday is predicted to see 46.9% of sales online. With a huge shortfall in delivery staff, an influx of online shopping this Black Friday poses a risk to logistics companies, causing potential dissatisfaction from retail businesses and their customers, Esendex predicted.

However, ongoing job shortages in the logistics sector will place pressure on online retailers and e-commerce brands as they face surging demand this peak season. The report highlights over 11,000 open vacancies for HGV drivers and 13,000 for delivery drivers.

Picker packer roles also face a notable shortfall, with 5,000 positions unfilled, although vacancies for logistics coordinators and parcel sorters remain comparatively lower at 200 and 25 respectively.

While retailers in England face the greatest risk of parcel delays, with a delivery job vacancy rate of 43.7 per 100,000 people, the expected Black Friday demand could test capacity across the UK.

Real-time communication

According to Esendex, this emphasizes the need for businesses to operate with transparency and actively manage customer expectations, particularly during peak shopping periods.

Commenting on the findings, Chris Gorman, head of commercial transformation at Esendex, said, “As we see an increase in online demand in the Black Friday and Christmas shopping period, recognizing the regions most at risk from delivery job shortages allows retail businesses and e-commerce brands to anticipate potential bottlenecks in the supply chain. With great numbers of vacancies for delivery drivers in England, especially in rural areas, fleet management operators will face pressures to get parcels delivered to customers when expected.

“One of the most effective ways for businesses to manage these challenges is through the use of real-time communication tools. These tools enable businesses to keep customers informed about delivery progress and any unexpected delays, allowing for proactive customer engagement.

“During peak retail periods, maintaining transparency is even more crucial to customer satisfaction. By providing timely updates and facilitating two-way communication, businesses can alleviate customer service pressure and ensure greater customer confidence. During such a competitive trading period, responsiveness can be a key differentiator for businesses.”

To view the research in full, please visit: 

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